4.

1 – Radian Measure
In trigonometry (up until grade 12), we have been using degrees to measure rotational angles
thus far. You may be surprised to learn that scientists, engineers, designers, and other
professionals who use angles in their daily work generally do not measure the angles in
degrees. There is another unit of measurement for angles that is frequently used because it
simplifies many formulas in calculus and physics. Radians are used as a unit of angle
measurement in many mathematical and scientific applications.

A radian is the

(Definition: Subtend – to extend under or be opposite to.)

Radians Formula: length of arc subtending the angle

Angle in radians =
length of radius
a

r
Ex. 1 Can you determine the central angle  in radians, that has an arc
length subtending the central angle equal to 5 cm.
How many radians are in one full circle? How many degrees in 1 radian?

Converting degrees to radians:

Rule A: To go from degrees radians you

Converting radians to degrees:

Rule B: To go from radians degrees you

Always remember 180  radians then you can easily develop A or B.

Examples:

Change to degrees Change to radian measure

1) 1) 270 =
3 rad =
2) 3 2) 450 =
  rad =
4
3) 3)
5.2 rad = 33.5 =
Angular Velocity of a Rotating Object
Suppose that a wheel is rotating at a constant rate around its centre, O, and P is a point on
the outer edge of the wheel. The velocity of point P can be measured in terms of the angle of
rotation. This is called angular velocity, and it is the rate at which the central angle changes
with respect to time.

angle 
Angular velocity = 
time t
Where  is the measure of the angle (in radians or degrees) through which the object travels
in time t . Notice in the formula that the angular velocity of an object traveling in a circular
path is the same, regardless of its distance from the centre of the circle.

Practice:
1) A merry-go-round makes 8 revolutions per minute.
a) What is the angular velocity of the merry-go-round in radians per minute?
b) What is the angular velocity of the merry-go-round in degrees per minute?

2) The hard disk in a personal computer rotates at 7200 rpm. Determine its angular
velocity in
a) degrees per second
b) radians per second
Ans.: 1) a) 16 radians / min. b) 2880 / min. 2) a) 43200 / s b) 240 rad / s